The upsurge in violence in December has caused massive displacement in the Central African Republic. More than 700,000 new cases of displacement have taken place since September 2014 (including over 500,000 in Bangui), while abuses against the civilian population are pervasive. The economy is reeling, undermining people’s livelihoods. Health and education service provision has collapsed due to looting, and lack of supplies and staff.

Some 2.6m people currently require humanitarian assistance. Priority needs include health, food, protection, and WASH. Immediate survival assistance is urgently required in IDP sites in Bangui. Women’s priority needs are protection, and food.

While a surge in response capacity has taken place since the declaration of the Level 3 emergency in early December, humanitarian access remains extremely challenging due to insecurity. Many communities, especially in rural areas, have not received any external assistance since early December.

Due to the dynamic nature of the crisis, agencies should shift to monitoring systems that would allow them to respond to needs as they change. In-depth sectorial assessments are required especially for shelter, nutrition and food security.

In September 2013, a food security assessment was conducted in Central African Republic (CAR) in partnership with ACF, FAO, OCHA, UNICEF, and ICASSES to assess the effects of insecurity on household food security. The assessment confirmed concerns raised by rapid assessments conducted earlier in 2013.

Key Results:

Approximately 1.1 million people outside of Bangui are estimated to be severely or moderately food-insecure

Due to persistent insecurity, households have relied on stress or crisis coping mechanisms, putting their livelihoods at risk

The food security situation is expected to deteriorate in the coming months if violence continues

WFP and UNICEF conducted an emergency food security assessment in September and October 2007 to update the information available on food security and nutrition in the country and inform a new and targeted Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO). The assessment covers food security and nutrition of rural vulnerable households as well as people living with HIV in the northern regions of the Central African Republic.

This assessment collected and analyzed primary and secondary information relating to the overall humanitarian situation and the food situation in particular populations affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Northwest and North of CAR.